Deathway: I understand that you guys
recently changed your name from Carolina to Antebellum.
Why did you guys feel the need for this change?

Geoff Peck (lead vocals, guitar): One
reason was because of the change in our style. We’ve
been playing shows as Carolina for a year, and we have
matured quite a bit. We figured we would change the
name as we release our new CD to showcase the change
in style. The other reason, which is kind of a lame
reason, is that there were 8 other bands with the name
Carolina.

DW: What else is new for you guys?

Kory Baxley (bass, vocals): Well,
we have two brand new, amazing songs. We’re going
to try to go up to Atlanta over Spring Break and record
two or three songs to send out to labels.

DW: What is a record label that you
would choose?KB: I would say Esperanza, because
it’s more of a friendship. It’s a non-contract
label.Richard Humphreys (guitar, synth):
It’s totally a DIY label.

DW: What brought you guys together?

GP: Truthfully, I did.
I played in a band with a couple of other guys. I didn’t
really like their styles, and we didn’t really
mesh well. I called each of these guys and asked if
they wanted to jam, so they replaced the other guys.
I’ve been called “the glue that holds the
band together.

DW: What inspires you guys? What makes
you want to write a song?

KB: Well, I write the
lyrics, and that’s basically how the song starts.
I’ll write a small part for Geoff to play.

KB: Yeah, anything, pretty much. I
have a lot of doubts with myself and with the world
period, so it makes for good lyrics.

GP: NO girl songs!

KB: Yeah, no girl songs.

GP: Almost every single one of our
songs talks about God and how we’re not doing
what we’re supposed to be doing. We have a new
song called “Breathe In, Breathe Out” which
is from the viewpoint of someone standing in the crowd
at Christ’s crucifixion. But, musically I write
my best stuff when I’m stressed out.

KB: Our songs would be absolutely nothing
if it weren’t for Richard knowing insane blues
scales and Jeremy being an insane drummer.

DW: Well, Obviously you guys are pretty
open about what you believe. How do you view spirituality
and the separation of “Christian and secular”
music?

KB: I don’t want
to say that there’s a difference, because I know
so many kids who never go to church and don’t
believe in God who love the Tooth & Nail bands.
There’s no line between either one of them.

GP: Once that line is created, it's
limiting for music and music fans.

RH: When people say, “I’m
Christian, so I can’t listen to secular music,"
it’s pointless. They’re being naïve,
and no one will respect their opinion. It’s very
closed-minded.

KB: Someone once told me about the
band Bright Eyes, that seeing someone else’s opinion
makes you reflect on your beliefs and opinions. Seeing
him be negative makes you be more positive.

DW: Why do you play music?

GP: For me if I didn’t
have it I would go nuts. It’s one thing that gets
everything out of my system. Like if I’m mad or
upset about something I can either A: write a song or
B: play a song, and it’s this release of emotion.

KB: It’s like a break from your
everyday life. You can go up on stage and do pretty
much whatever you feel.

JB: For me, it’s my passion,
I’ve always wanted to play musi,c and I always
have played drums since I was a little kid. And I always
will, unless I lose my arms and legs.

DW: Do you guys feel like people can
connect with your music?

KB: There are people that
love our music and want to see us every time we play.
We’re not so different, but we’re not what
is popular right now. A lot of people like to listen
to us, but they don’t want to get too into it,
because it’s not trendy.

GP: They don’t like it enough
to buy our CD. With indie songs you’re not trying
to find a catchy hook; we’re just reaching out
to people and say, “take it or leave it."

DW: Do you guys ever feel like a sort
of hero on stage?

GP: We’re not like
rock stars with the groupies. I don’t think that
people should look up to us, because we’re not
the most perfect people in the world. But we have NO
rockstar attitude.

KB: We see bands give a testimony on
stage, and that’s cool if that’s what you
feel you should do. We don’t give a testimony
on stage, because we feel like if we do we’d be
setting ourselves up to let people down. It can also
be a good way to break up a band. If there’s one
guy in the band who’s a super strict Christian,
and the other guys aren’t at all, if that one
guy speaks a testimony, he speaks for the whole band.
That isn’t right.

GP: I don’t want to be looked
up to, because I don’t want to let kids down.

DW: When are you guys the happiest?

KB: On tour, playing music,
I am the happiest person. At that point there are no
worries, being with my brothers. The only worries are
how much longer until we get there and where will we
stay.

RH: …and whether or not that
will be a shady hotel in Ft. Lauderdale…with crackheads.

JB: For all of us, we’re the
happiest when we’re around music, listening to
it or playing it.

DW: Touch on your influences for me.

GP: In my CD player is
Colour Revolt, Frodus…

JB: I’m probably the most generic
person in the band. I listen to everything, but I mainly
stick to metal and hardcore.

KB: I’m listening to Colour Revolt,
Cursive, Frodus, and Criteria.

RH: Well, it varies but right now it’s
the latest Decahedron CD, Cursive, and the Refused.

All: Yeah, the Refused.

GP: So you can see how we easily mesh
together.

DW: How would you guys personally like
to change the world?

KB: To really enforce
the expression, “Do unto others what you would
have done to you." It’s like you go out of
your way for people, and the next day you need help
for the same thing and they do nothing. I just wish
I could make people stop from selfishness in their lives.

DW: What do you guys see on the horizon
for Antebellum?

KB: Recording soon, hopefully.

RH: We’re going to try to get
some out of town shows.

DW: What do the phrases “Dead
to this world” and “to die is gain”,
mean to you?

RH: It’s not worrying
about material things of this world and worrying about
when you’re going to die and your money. None
of these things are going to matter; we’re all
going to die. We’re not going to have the material
possessions we desire after we die. It’s understanding
that there’s something more.

KB: Everyone is part of the world,
but that doesn’t mean that you have to get caught
up in all the worldly things.

JB: Of course you want
things—everyone does—but there’s more
to life than that.